by Michele Matthews

Created on: May 09, 2008   Last Updated: August 20, 2011

The prom is a fantasy for most girls from the first pretty dress they put on. When the time comes to start preparation the first thing on their mind is that forever coveted dress. Being a parent, you want them to have the best they can but with today's economy that isn't always possible. There are ways to overcome the financial obstacle put on this great event and here are a few tips on where to begin.

Your best bet is to start at your local consignment, thrift or second hand stores. When most teenagers hear second hand they refuse right off the bat but usually the second hand stores have new items with tags so no one is the wiser. At the chain stores like Goodwill or Salvation Army you are only going to pay around $10.00 for a dress with or without tags. At private stores you may pay up to half price for a dress with tags which is still a bargain. Second hand shops usually have a larger selection of dresses around dance time. Many people who donate items such as dresses know what time of year they are popular.

If your teenager doesn't bite the second hand store idea or you cannot find the dream dress you do have other low cost options; websites. Ebay.com and Craigslist.com are a great place to look for discounted dresses. The downside to Ebay.com is that you do not have an option to try on the dress and may incur more costs in altering. With Ebay you also have to wait for shipping so it is not a last minute option. Craigslist.com is a local site where you can purchase items from people in your surrounding area. This is a great option because you can view and try on the dress before you decide on purchasing it. These two options have another facet of their usefulness: after the prom you can re-sell your dress and get some of your money back!

There is one last option that may get you a dress at no cost other than the gas to pick it up. There is a Yahoo! group available in most areas called freecycle. Freecycle is an earth friendly group that has members giving away items that would normally be donated or thrown away. This site was originally started to prevent landfills from filling up with usable items. All you have to do is sign up and offer a free item, then you can post a request for a dress or anything else you may need. You can almost be guaranteed that there is someone out there that has a dress in the back of their closet that was worn once and will just collect dust if not given away.

With these options there is no reason for every prom going girl to not feel like a princess. Happy shopping to you!

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